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‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’: Not just for ABBA fans (Review)
By Subhash K. Jha
Film: “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again”; Director: Ol Parker; Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Dominic Cooper, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, Andy Garcia, Christine Branski, Julie Walters, Meryl Streep and Cher; Rating: ****1/2
If you are a die-hard fan of the Swedish pop group ABBA, you must have waited ten years for this sumptuous sequel to “Mamma Mia”, the film woven around the ethereal songs of ABBA and performed by the actors with an enthralling verve.
The hypnotically beautiful Amanda Seyfriend and Meryl Streep are back as daughter and mother. The vast cast is uniformly good looking. The film oozes a visual splendour of orgiastic proportions.
The verve and vivacity of the original spills over effortlessly into the sequel. The plot dithers delectably between utopia and fantasia, careening captivatingly towards the Broadway styled musicals where the actors (expert singers or not) express moments of heightened feelings through the songs.
The melodic masterpieces of ABBA are performed on a Croatian island where time comes to standstill as a truckload of characters belonging to two different time zones come together in the most celebratory ode to effervescence I’ve seen on screen. This is “The Sound Of Music” with the cuteness quotient augmented manifold.
I don’t think one needs to be a fanatic fan of ABBA as I am, to love these “Mamma Mia” movies. So ebullient and contagious are the choreography and singing of the numbers that I saw youngsters simply getting swayed off their feet in the theatre, grooving to the magical beats of a group that can never get outdated.
This brings me to the lackadaisical release of “Mamma Mia 2” in India. I am told that the film’s distributors Universal Pictures didn’t think there was a large audience for ABBA and “Mamma Mia” since the generations that dug ABBA are long gone.
Wrong! ABBA, like good champagne, has only got more inviting with time. The magical cadences of their songs are used in the film to give the characters a sense of infinitesimal ecstasy in a world that is rendered transient not just by time but also by mood and temperament.
It’s an enchanting experience to see all the accomplished actors of all ages getting into the party mood with such accomplished chords.
Every actor is just right for the celebratory mood. Easily the highlight is the timeless Cher singing “Fernando” — a number so steeped in nostalgia that it requires nerves of steel to not break down while it is performed in her seductively smoky voice.
Ah, the sad bit. There is very little of Meryl Streep in the film. Not that there is much room for anybody to stay their welcome. There are two sets of actors playing each character in the past and present. Timelines are jauntily ignored while everyone has a ‘gala’ (as in throaty) time. Not very often do we come out of a film feeling so happy to be alive.
So, thank you for the music. Thank you for this that celebrates the joy of ABBA’s music. Thank you for the world of unalloyed innocence and joy at a time when biopics on serial killers, gangsters, terrorists and other nasty types, rule the roost.
–IANS
skj/rb/bg
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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